Tomball moves ahead with plans to annex 375 acres from Harris County

By Mayra Cruz, mayra.cruz@chron.com

Published 1:35 pm, Wednesday, March 7, 2018

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Tomball will move forward with obtaining public comment on a proposal from Harris County to annex a 375-acre property into its extraterritorial jurisdiction. Harris County Precinct 4 is currently constructing a $19.9 million service center complex south of Humble Road, along proposed Holderrieth Road, which is currently a dirt road. less

Tomball will move forward with obtaining public comment on a proposal from Harris County to annex a 375-acre property into its extraterritorial jurisdiction. Harris County Precinct 4 is currently constructing a ... more

Photo: Mayra Cruz

Tomball moves ahead with plans to annex 375 acres from Harris County

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Tomball will move forward with obtaining public comment on a proposal from Harris County to annex a 375-acre property into its extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Harris County Precinct 4 is currently constructing a $19.9 million service center complex south of Humble Road, along proposed Holderrieth Road, which is currently a dirt road.

The center would serve as an administrative facility and warehouse for Precinct 4 tractors and trucks.

In November, the commissioners court decided to go forward to request that Tomball would consider annexing the property so that it would provide utilities.

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Currently, the property is in the city of Houston's extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Melissa Hamous with the Harris County Engineering Department, told the council that the complex would be seeking natural gas and water utilities from the city of Tomball, but that the county would take care of the waste water.

"It is a full annexation of all of the property that Harris County currently owns," she said.

The service center might also be the future home of the Justice of the Peace Pct. 4, Place 1 courthouse, which is currently located on Cypresswood Drive. The building flooded during Harvey and is currently undergoing repairs.

Last month, Pct. 4 Constable Mark Herman returned to the building it shares with the building after his side of repairs was completed.

At the city council meeting on Monday, members voted unanimously to go forward with two public hearings regarding the proposed annexation.

"The first recommendation for the public hearing is at the regular council meeting on April 2 and the next one would be on the regular council meeting on April 16," said city secretary Doris Speer.

Both meetings are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Once the public comment sessions are complete, city council will then decide whether or not to annex the property as early as May 7.

While the primary elections wrapped up on Tuesday, the city council also announced it would cancel the city upcoming elections for positions 2 and 4, which are currently held by Mark Stoll and Derek Townsend Sr., respectively.

The upcoming election on May 5, did not have any challengers for both incumbents.

At the meeting, Tomball Police Chief Billy Tidwell introduced the handicap parking enforcement program that will be starting in two weeks.

So far, 14 participating volunteers have undergone training to help the police department crack down on motorists parking illegally in handicap parking spaces.

Volunteers will now be able to write citations on vehicles that are illegally parked in a handicap spot, with fines that can start at $500, according to state statutes.

"Handicap volunteers can cite vehicles that don't have the proper placards or license plate in a handicap parking spot. Our volunteers are not allowed to approach a vehicle if someone is in the vehicle. They can take a photograph and turn it over to one of the officers," said Tidwell.